Strongest West Indies playing XI of the 2010 decade

West Indies as a nation has always had the upper hand when the talk comes to cricket. The nation had created a legacy during the 19th century when every other team used to fear the prospect of playing the West Indies. This tradition has been carried down from the 19th to 21st century as even today, the team has got some players who can create havoc.

During the early days of cricket, the side used to have pure cricketing talent in the form of Malcolm Marshall, Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards and many more talented cricketers. It was an era where the side used to completely dominate the game. No other side could even come close to beating this legendary team.

Though there was a difficult transitional phase for the team when the players left, the West Indies is perhaps the most dangerous side in world cricket right now. This team comprises the younger lads who have got the hunger for victory in their minds.

If all the players resolve their dispute with the board and play for the nation with pride, then no team can stop West Indies from becoming the superpower of cricket once again.

Here is a playing XI featuring the current generation West Indies players which can defeat any team on the planet -

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#1 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle is the most dangerous opening batsman of the world.

No other player can replace Chris Gayle as the opener in the strongest West Indian playing XI thanks to his sheer brilliance. He is by far the best choice to open the innings for West Indies. He can hammer every ball for the boundary, regardless of the bowler he is facing.

Popularly known as the Universe Boss, Gayle can be handy with the bat as well as the ball in any format of the game. His ability to tonk the ball a long way, irrespective of the situation makes him a match-winner.

#2 Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis can be the perfect opening partner for Chris Gayle

Evin Lewis could be the best possible option as an opening batsman and partner to Chris Gayle for this West Indies team in their current generation strongest playing XI. The opening pair of Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis could be a nightmarish prospect for any bowling line-up in the world. He can easily get the team off to a very good start pertaining to his aggressive batting style.

Lewis has thus far played 34 ODIs and 20 T20s for his nation and he has already registered a century to his name in both these formats. He has the record of smashing five sixes in an over which he achieved in a T20 against India against Stuart Binny. Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis could be the best opening pair in the world which every nation might wish to have.

#3 Darren Bravo

Darren Bravo can handle the pressure very well at no.3

Every nation has to get the best batsman of their side to play at No 3. If the openers fail, the No.3 batsman will then be the only guy who could be the saving grace for his side. Darren Bravo is one such player who can easily fit in this role. His ability to remain calm even in the toughest situation makes him a very stable batsman.

Darren Bravo is the younger brother of Dwayne Bravo and the Bravo brothers' combination was a dreaded one back in the day. Darren Bravo's cricketing career has taken off with his role as one of the best batsmen in the team and has an average of 30.32 in ODI cricket. His technical skill with the bat in hand has also earned comparisons to Brian Lara's style of batting as well.

#4 Denesh Ramdin (Wicket-keeper)

Denesh Ramdin was one of the best wicket-keepers for West Indies.

West Indies as a side has got some top class batsmen and bowlers who can win the matches for them. However, the side has not had some great wicket-keepers in their cricket history who could turn the game with his glove work. Thus, Denesh Ramdin could be the best possible option for the wicket-keeper position of this team as he is someone who can showcase some great glove work behind the stumps.

Denesh Ramdin remains one of the best wicket-keepers West Indies have had in their cricketing history. His total of 205 catches in test cricket and 181 catches in the 50-over format of the game is a perfect display of his class. Apart from just donning the gloves, Ramdin was a good batsman who could either anchor the innings or provide some fireworks in the end.

#5 Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard can be one of the most reliable batsmen of the side.

A team must have a good middle order in order to pile pressure on the opposition bowling unit. For this, the side must have a reliable batsman batting at No.5 or No.6 who can play a mature as well as an aggressive brand of cricket as per the conditions. Pollard could be the most suitable batsman for this role as he knows how to pace his innings in the middle overs.

Kieron Pollard could be considered as the most reliable batsman of the side owing to the immense experience he has. He can easily take his team over the boundary line once he starts going as no one can stop him. Pollard can adapt to the situations very quickly which makes him the best middle-order batsman of this playing XI. Apart from this, his athletic fielding also makes him a prime contender to be a part of this squad.

#6 Andre Russell

Andre Russell can be considered the X-factor of this playing XI.

Every team in the world wishes to have a great all-rounder in their side who can prove to be the game changer for them. But when it comes to the West Indian side, they have got a huge number of all-rounders in their side. Andre Russell is one such player who can completely turn the game in his favour with his all-around abilities.

Andre Russell is a player who can play the role of an X-factor in this side. He can contribute in all the departments in every game, giving his 100% at all times. His aggressive batting style can prove to be a sign of danger as the game progresses in the later stage. Dre Russ can also play the role of a finisher by batting lower down the order as per his flexibility. This side could never ever be a complete one without the presence of Andre Russell in it.

#7 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo can make the game more interesting with his dance moves.

Death bowling has certainly become an issue for all the teams of the world. Mostly all the bowlers get smashed during the last few overs of the innings which creates the trouble for the side. In this case, the team must have a strong death bowler who can bowl pin-point yorkers. Dwayne Bravo could be considered as the best possible option for this West Indian XI.

Dwayne Bravo has the world-class skill of bowling yorkers at the death which creates trouble for the batsman. He can also bowl the same kind of deliveries with variations in pace that makes him one of the best death bowlers in the world. His ability to bowl slower yorkers can always give his side the upper hand. DJ Bravo can even bat well in the slog overs which can make life difficult for the opposition.

#8 Darren Sammy (Captain)

Darren Sammy has won multiple ICC trophies for West Indies as a captain.

The success of any team in terms of cricket is mainly dependent on that one man who is leading the side. Referring to this playing XI, Darren Sammy is one such player who can take this place. Sammy has achieved a lot of success as the captain of the West Indies in the past which makes him the right choice to captain this side as well.

The West Indian's hard-hitting skills along with his right-arm medium pace makes him a useful all-rounder in this side but what stands out is his captaincy. Sammy has a world record to his name as the only one to win the World T20 twice.

#9 Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine can be the main front-line spinner of this side.

Sunil Narine could be the main mystery spinner of this side who can turn the game on its head. Capable of turning the ball both ways, Narine has some supreme skill that irrespective of the conditions, Narine can still deliver which makes him one of the best finger-spinners in the world.

In recent times, the West Indian has clearly developed into a big-hitting all-rounder and not just a spinner. The world has witnessed Sunil Narine's ability to decimate bowling attacks in the Indian Premier League when he used to open the innings for Kolkata Knight Riders. With his all-round prowess, Narine's importance in the team is multi-fold.

#10 Kemar Roach

Kemar Roach had a great career as a fast bowler for West Indies.

Every nation dreams of having a great fast bowler in their side who can clock 150 kph consistently. West Indies had a number of legendary fast bowlers during the 19th century. At present, Kemar Roach is the one such bowler who can crank up the pace.

Kemar has bagged a total of 184 wickets in the 53 Test matches which he has played so far. He has been donning the white jersey of West Indies in Test cricket from 2008 to present times. He has been constantly leading the bowling line-up with his quick pace coming to good effect.

Speaking about his statistics in ODIs, Roach has scalped 114 wickets in 80 ODIs. The strongest West Indian playing 11 might look like incomplete without him as he has proven himself as one of the best bowlers of the current era.

#11 Oshane Thomas

Oshane Thomas has got a good amount of talent at a very young age.

To play international cricket at a very young age has been the dream of various young cricketers. However, it is not everyone’s cup of tea as it requires a huge amount of dedication and hard work. Oshane Thomas is one such guy who fulfilled his dream at a very young age. He made his international debut for West Indies at the age of just 21 years.

Hailing from Jamaica, Oshane Thomas has already bagged a total of 15 ODI wickets from just eight matches which even includes one five-wicket haul. Thomas' first two wickets in T20 cricket were of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, making him an integral part of this West Indies squad with his pace and ability to trouble batsmen with his consistency.